South Bend, Indiana

April 2005

All images © 2005 by Robert E. Pence

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When I go to Chicago, I drive to South Bend and catch a South Shore train at the airport to avoid driving and parking in Chicago. Earlier this month I decided to explore downtown South Bend a little. I drove there a day early and got a motel near the airport, and then went downtown and wandered about with my camera.

South Bend is best known as home of The University of Notre Dame. I didn't make it there on this photo excursion, but I'll try to include the campus and some city neighborhoods on my next trip.

South Bend was hit harder by urban renewal in the 1970s than any city I know of; the old downtown was nearly obliterated, and an abundance of empty space remains, providing an excellent opportunity for appropriate infill. I'd like to see that happen. Churches and civic structures predominate among the few buildings remaining from the 19th and early 20th centuries, and even midday during the week, there was very little pedestrian activity.

That said, some of the new construction is quite attractive, and the city appears to have decent transit coverage. The Michiana Regional Transportation Center lies just on the edge of the city, is served by the transit system and serves commercial airlines, intercity buses and a commuter rail connection with Chicago. The St. Joseph River downtown is a tremendous asset; it's wide, with a significant flow rate of not-muddy water, and the dam beside the Century Center makes for a dramatic setting.

Twelve floors of the 1971 25-floor, 332-foot City Center are occupied by a Holiday Inn. The tower stands on the former site of the Oliver Hotel.

The Tower Building made the news in 2004 as the home of Peregrine Falcons

The State Theatre is now a nightclub

The South Bend Chocolate Company is a must-visit for anyone with a sweet tooth. They make exceptionally good candies.

Public Library

The Studebaker National Museum displays examples of most of the cars that Studebaker built, including the former company's entire collection. A new facility is under construction near the Center for History, west of downtown. Projected opening is fall 2005.

Covaleski Stadium, opened in 1987, is home to the minor-league South Bend Silver Hawks, affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The team was named for the Studebaker Silver Hawk, a high-performance car built by the automaker during its final years.

Union Station served passengers on the New York Central and Grand Trunk railroads. After years of neglect and vandalism, it was renovated and now houses offices and hosts receptions and other events in the main concourse.

I stood on tiptoe and shot this photo through the window glass. Please pardon the reflections.

South Bend built the Transpo bus facility next to the railroad just east of Union Station with the intention of relocating the Amtrak station there from the current undesirable location near the former Bendix plant on the west side of the city. Those hopes were dashed after Norfolk Southern acquired the rail line with the breakup of Conrail.

St. Patrick's Catholic Church – this parish was established in 1858

St. Hedwig's Catholic Church is just a block west of St Patrick's. This parish was established in 1877